Tairua, Pauanui and the East Coast by Campervan: South from Cathedral Cove

Quick summary: For campervan travellers heading south from Cathedral Cove, the Coromandel’s east coast is a string of beaches, harbours and forested hills. Tairua sits on a sheltered harbour beneath Paku, an old volcanic cone with sweeping views; Pauanui faces it across the water; Opoutere is a quiet beach and wildlife refuge; and Whangamatā is a lively surf town. It’s around 70 km from Hahei to Whangamatā, an easy leg for a campervan or motorhome on the way to the Bay of Plenty.

At a glance
Tairua	Around 35 km from Hahei
Pauanui	Across the harbour from Tairua
Opoutere	Between Tairua and Whangamatā
Whangamatā	Around 70 km from Hahei
Highlights	Paku summit, Pauanui’s beach, Opoutere’s birdlife, Whangamatā’s surf
Camping	Holiday parks and DOC campsites in the forested valleys

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What is there to see on the east coast?

Place	What’s there
Tairua	A harbour town with cafés and boat ramps, beneath Paku
Paku summit	A short, steep climb to a lookout over the harbour, islands and coast
Pauanui	A long surf beach and a walk up Mount Pauanui
Opoutere	A quiet beach and sandspit where shorebirds nest
Whangamatā	A surf town with a long beach, harbour and island views

What is Paku summit?

An old volcanic cone at the mouth of the Tairua Harbour, reached by a short road and a steep walk to the top. The views take in the harbour, Pauanui, the Alderman Islands offshore and the coast north and south. It’s one of the best lookouts on the Coromandel, though the road near the top is narrow, so leave larger vehicles lower down.

Can you get from Tairua to Pauanui in an RV?

By road, it’s a drive around the harbour via State Highway 25 and the road into Pauanui. A passenger ferry also crosses the harbour, so you can leave the campervan in Tairua and visit Pauanui on foot or by bike.

Why visit Opoutere?

For peace and nature. Opoutere’s long beach is backed by forest, and the sandspit at the harbour mouth is a wildlife refuge where shorebirds, including New Zealand dotterel, nest. Keep to marked paths and respect any closed nesting areas.

Where can you stay?

• Holiday parks in Tairua, Pauanui and Whangamatā.
• DOC campsites in the forested valleys inland, such as Broken Hills near Tairua and Wentworth Valley near Whangamatā.
• Freedom camping happens only at sites Thames-Coromandel District Council designates, generally for certified self-contained vehicles; look them up before you arrive.

Where does the trip go next?

South through Waihi and the Karangahake Gorge to Tauranga, or west back across the Kopu–Hikuai road to Auckland. See from Tauranga and Rotorua and adding the Coromandel to a North Island trip.

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Frequently Asked Questions